Jacob&#39;s ladder



Dec. 12, 1944. E. J. SCHNEIDER JACOBS LADDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 13, 1943 glwuc-nhvo (1 20a Ti 1%(5'0/272 ez'ier Dec. 12, 1944. E. J. SCHNEIDIER JAcoB's LADDER Filed April 13, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zluwcmiom Patented Dec. 12, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention relates to improvements in Jacobs ladders, and it is an object of the invention to provide a ladder of this kind of a multiple type and which is constructed and assembled in a manner to afford sufiicient flexibility to facilitate the same being thrown overboard with liability of injury substantially eliminated.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a multiple ladder of this kind comprising a series of flexible suspension members arranged side by side in desiredspaced relationand wherein adjacent members at points spaced therealong are connected by interposed rungs, the rungs connecting one pair of adjacent flexible members being offset with respect to the rungs connecting the adjacent pair of flexible members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ladder of this kind wherein each of the rungs comprised therein is'constructed in a manner to permit combined use of both wood and metal and in a manner whereby the metal effectively protects the wood against fire and also wherein the wood provides means to protect the hands, particularly in cold weather, as the wood of the rung or step makes it unnecessary for the hands to come into contact with metal.

It is also anobject of the invention to-provide a ladder of this kind wherein eachof the steps or rungs comprises a wood body having its lower portion substantially housed within metal, together with a plate at each end portion of the step or rung for attaching thesame to a flexible member or chain and wherein each of the plates and housing are held in applied position upon the wooden body by common holding members.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved Jacobs ladder whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure, 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a Jacobs ladder constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is an,enlarged detailed elevational view illustrating the manner of connecting the steps or rungs and a boom to one of the flexible members.

Figure 3 is a view partly in top plan and partly view taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 9--9 of Figure 1, and

- Figure 10 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line llli ll of Figure 1.

In: the embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the ladder comprises a plurality of flexible members M, each herein disclosed as a chain of a lock link type. These members or chains M are each coextensive in length with the others and the upper extremity of each of the members or chains M has secured thereto an anchor ring I. The ring I is preferably of steel and in the present embodiment connected at desired points spaced equidistantly therealong with the rungs or steps R and, as is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

the rungs or steps between one pair of adjacent members or chains M are slightly offset with respect to the rungs or steps R between the adjacent pair and with the rungsor steps R between alternate pairs of members or chains M substantially aligned in a direction transversely of the ladder. I

The bottom links I of the members or chains M are engaged through the outstanding eye members 3 carried by and properly spaced apart along a bottom metallic boom 4. In practice, adjacent eye, members 3 are spaced apart a distance of approximately twelve inches. At equidistantly spaced points therealong the members or chains M are also connected by the eye or hook bolts 5 to the wooden booms 6. These booms 6, in the invention as herein embodied, are preferably four in number and equidistantly spaced.

While the boom 4, which is herein disclosed as hollow, is substantially coplanar with the flexible members or chains M when thrown overboard or in suspension, it is to be pointed out that the wooden booms 6 are to the ship-side of the members. These various booms 4 and 6 serve to maintain the members M in desired spaced relation, yet a certain amount of flexibility transversely of the ladder structure is permitted by having the rungs or steps R of one series slightly olfset with respect to the rungs or steps of an adjacent series. This, transverse flexibility is of desired advantage particularly when throwing the ladder overboard as this transverse flexibility will pre-- vent breaking of the ladder and at the same time more particularly materially facilitates the handling of the ladder.

nel I8 is the side bar e of the required link I of a chain.

While it is of particular importance to employ the body member I of wood, yet it is to be particularly pointed out that the construction of the completed rung or step R is such that the strain of the load imposed upon the rung or step is carried entirely by the housing H through the plates I4 and through the plates I4 or cap members as they may be called.

The housing H at each end is provided with an extension which is turned upwardly to provide a wear plate I9 having close contact with the Each of the rungs or steps R, as herein em bodied, comprises a body member I of wood having substantially the lower half of its side walls b and the lower half of its end walls substantially fiat and perpendicular to the body flat face d of the body member I. The upper longitudinal marginal portions of the body member I are rounded, as at 8, to facilitate grasping while the end walls 0 of the rung or step have their upper portions inwardly beveled, as at 9, on an angle of substantially forty-five degrees.

The side walls or faces of the rung or step R atsubstantially the center thereof are provided therealong from end to end with the straight grooves I8 open 'at their extremities, and the part of the body member 1-- below these grooves I0 is adapted to be snugly received within a channel member or housing H coextensive in length with the length of the body member 7. This channel member or housing H is U-shaped in cross section from end'to end with its side walls I I parallel and having their upper or free longitudinal margins defined by the inwardly disposed flanges I2 which are slidably received within the grooves I0, whereby the channel member or housing H and the body member I are effectively assembled.

This channel member or housing H is formed of sheet metal, preferably 20 gauge steel, and provides means to effectively protect the rung or step against fire, and it is to be further pointed out that the assembly of the housing H and the body portion 1 is such whereby the body portion l xtends a material distance above the applied housing H so that the step or rung may be effectively grasped by the hand without the hand coming in contact with the metal. This is of particular advantage when the ladder is being used in freezing temperatures.

Disposed across the lower fiat portions of the end walls 0 of the rung or step R are the attaching plates I 4 having their extremities provided with the parallel arms I5 which overlie the end portions of the, side walls II of the housing H. These arms I5 and the associated parts of the side walls II have disposed therethrough the anchoring bolts I6 which are also directed through the adjacent extremities of the body portion I.

The central portion of each of the attaching plates 14 is outwardly oflset, as at IT, to provide an inwardly facing groove or channel I8 which folds vertically with respect to the rung or step R and snugly engaged withinthis groove or chanadjacent end wall C of the rung or step B. This plate I9 serves to protect said adjacent end face of the rung or step R against action of the adjacent link of the member M.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a Jacobs ladder constructed ible suspending in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

What is claimed is:

1. A J acobs ladder comprising a pair of flexible suspending members and rungs located therebetween, each of said rungs comprising a metallic channel member having side walls provided with inwardly disposed flanges therealong, and a 7 wooden body having grooves extending along its side faces, said body sliding into the channel member with the flanges engaging within the grooves of the body member, end plates, means for securing the end plates and the channel member to each other and to the body member, and means carried by the end plates to engage the flexible members,

2. A Jacobs ladder comprising a pair of flexible suspending members and rungs located therebetween, each of said rungs comprising a metallic channel member having side walls provided with inwardly disposed flanges therealong, and a Wooden body having grooves extending along its side faces, said body sliding into the channel member with the flanges engaging within the grooves of the body member, end plates, and means for securing the end plates and the channel member to each other and to the body member, the end plates having central portions outwardly offset to provide inwardly facing grooves disposed vertically with respect to the body member, the flexible members being held within said grooves.

3. A J acobs ladder comprising a pair of flexmembers and rungs located therebetween, each of said rungs comprising a metallic channel member having side walls provided with inwardly disposed flanges therealong, a wooden body having grooves extending along its side faces, said body sliding into the channel member with the flanges engaging within the grooves of the body member, end plates, means for securing the end plates and the channel member to each other and to the body member, means carried by the end plates to engage the flexible members, and a wear plate carried by each extremity of the channel member and having close contact with the adjacent end of the body member.

EDWARD J. SCHNEIDER: 

